Friday's Featured Resource - Ali Edwards

Ali Edwards, Oregon Coast, Summer 2008

I don’t scrapbook. I tried it once many years ago and failed miserably. Don’t get me wrong, my pages looked pretty good but I only got 4 done. The End. But when I see the volumes of cool and imaginative scrapbooks created by the incredibly talented Ali Edwards, I swoon. Suddenly I become a scrapbook junkie. Course, I haven’t attempted it again since my first 4 pages but still, I like to look and admire what Ali has done.

When I visit Ali’s blog, I know I want to make something amazing with my photos but then I get overly-inspired and decide I’ll leave it for another day. But then today is gone. Sigh. So, when I read the invitation to join Ali in a simple project to record a week in the life of my life, my family, using my photos, featuring what I see as important today, I will admit, I got a burst of inspired energy and determination. Maybe I can do this. Maybe I’ll start today.

Why this project? Why now? I guess it’s just the thrill of having this moment in time distilled into something tangible. Something I can hold in my hands as a reminder of this priceless and fleeting moment of my life. I take photo and after photo and am usually content with that being the end result. But the idea of using photos as a springboard sparks my interest. It’s as if the photo is just part of the process. It’s a whole new perspective. And it’s as simple as a focusing in on just one week of my life. I think it sounds wonderful and I plan on taking Ali up on her invitation by following along with her on her blog to see what I can come up with. Why not?

Ali is a one woman resource and offers so much via her blog, her books, her columns, etc etc). I encourage you to click around and discover the magic that is Ali Edwards. She’s one heck of a creative gal who likes to share and sharing is good.

Speaking of sharing, Ali has offered to give away 4 books (1 copy of each title ) to lucky readers her at Shutter Sisters today. Be sure to leave a comment today to get into the running…prepare to be inspired. You have until midnight on Saturday to be included in the drawing.

Comments

[Melissa]

I haven't scrapbooked in ages.
Which means that I am desperate need of some more "current events" in my scrapbook.
This may be just the ticket.
THANKS! :)

[Marisha]

What an AWESOME giveaway!!! Ali is extremely talented, and her work is simply inspiring. I'm excited about playing along with her for the weekend creative she posted. Cant wait to see how it turns out!

[Karissa]

Another fan here...I may join along w/ this!

[Cheri]

I was wondering what kind of photos to include in Ali's Everyday Shutterfly book - and then she creates this perfect project to capture everday things. I'm going to give it a try. Even though I don't have kids, I feel it is important to document everyday chores, favorites, errands, etc.

[Mariangeles_spain]

Love Ali's work!! Love her books!!

[Melanie]

Well, I know Ali's work very well (been paper and digi-scrapping for 5 years now). I would love her books! So I am leaving my comment and keeping my fingers crossed!

[Sam F in Seattle]

Love this "ode to Ali" post. I find her work very inspiring as well and am planning to start documenting a week-in-my-life this weekend to follow along and create w/ Ali. Love it!

[Elisabeth C.]

I've always wanted to go to this class, and this is almost as good!! I'm gonna try it! btw.... love your website..this is the first time I've heard of it, but I've enjoyed reading it!!

[Jennifer]

I love reading Ali's blog and would love one of her books. I going to do the week in the life of also, looks like fun.

[Lindsay]

Love Ali, love this idea. Going to give it a shot and see what happens!

[Christy B.]

I've been saving up for her books! Would love to win them!

[kimberly a]

I love being inspired by Ali's blog, thanks for the chance to win one of her books!

[Jakki]

HUGE HUGE scrapbooker here!! LOL. Been since scrapbooks had the strings that you tie together...Something about documenting our lives and history. Guess that's why I love photography.

Thanks for the link to her page...I've already checked it out and I love it...

[Raewyn A]

I have to agree wholeheartedly, Ali so generously shares her knowledge and inspires one and all.

[amy]

I'd love to win Ali's books! She is just so inspiring!

[Amber]

I am excited to attempt this project next week - Ali is so real and is a wealth of knowledge and challenges!!

[Donna]

OK, I'm convinced....sounds reasonable to me. My 14 year old son LOVES me taking his picture (HAHA) so this should be interesting. Ali's email hooked me up to your blog, so I'll walk around here and see whatcha got cookin'
Cheers!

[Emily Barklage]

Thanks Ali and Shutter Sisters!

[Sarah B]

Beautiful. Lovely. Inspiring. Life-giving. Thank you for adding your beauty to this world and for sharing it with us.

[Becky W in VA]

Ali's blog is a must read for me first thing in the AM. She is full of great ideas and has a wonderful calming effect with her outlook on life. Thank you for this chance! This project is going to be so much fun!
Becky W
Arlington, VA

[Chris]

I get inspired when I visit Ali's blog and get all motivated, but then I freak myself out and never do anything. I really, really want to do something! LOL.

[kim su]

LOOOOOVE Ali, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to win a set of her books. Looking forward to working on next week's everyday life project on Ali's blog. Her work is packed with inspiraion. Thanks, Kim

[kim su]

LOOOOOVE Ali, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to win a set of her books. Looking forward to working on next week's everyday life project on Ali's blog. Her work is packed with inspiraion. Thanks, Kim

[Denae]

I can not WAIT to begin this project...the change of season seems to have me very inspired to start creating and this is a great way to start. Yay for Ali. :-)

[ms ellie]

I am going to play along next week.
Okay, it's in writing. Guess there's no backin' out now! (BTW--lovin your photos)

[sandra O]

I would love to have that collection of books. I read Ali's blog regularly and am always inspired. I too, hope to try the peek into my week project. Time flies and it is filled with the everyday stuff we take for granted. I would love to look back on a project like this and be able to remember that time with some detail. Thanks Sandra O

[traci]

i enjoy the process of scrapbooking but i don't feel that i am the best at it. i still create b/c i love to make stuff (it is soothing for me). i still scrapbook so that I can share the pages with my kids when they get bigger. i love knowing that they will be able to read/see what they did as a child.

[melody is slurping life]

Thank you for introducing me to Ali, what inspiration indeed! I,too, am a scrapping failure, but this week in my life sounds doable.

And please, I'd love to be entered into the draw. Thanks.

[Chandra]

I love Ali's work and b/c of her, found your site! It's beautiful! I'm trying to get inspired lately....in a creative funk. Again. As usual.

[Segolene]

Hello... Wahou, I just love Ali's work. She is the only one able to make such simple layout look just perfect: nothing to remove and nothing to have. I first only scrapbooked "big events" but since I have seen I work, I started documenting my everyday life also.

[Sue Baker]

Definitely the inspiration I need to start scrapbooking. I'm a cardmaker at heart but will be participating in this next week. I love taking randomn photos of everyday things.

[Heather]

Hi
I love Ali too and I am also going to join her to document a Week of my life!
Heather Oz
dhoswald@msn.com

[nicole]

scrapbooking is not about making pretty pages. it's for your family. but, putting pics in an album, is great, too! i had trouble putting pics in albums. i need somethig creative to focus on... scrappin'

embrace whatever hobby you enjoy and go with it! ali's blog is great b/c she does other projects, also.

have a great day.

[kathy]

Love Ali! Love her work! Love the inspiration she shares! Would love to receive her book(s). This is a great blog, so happy to find it. The trinidad cabin photo is great! Keep it up, thanks for the happy Friday.

[Carole Hepburn]

I adore Ali and her work is so inspiring...I am going to do this project next week - I did it at CKU Nashville so it will be fun to compare a year of different things or how much is the same - totally fun to do .... Lots of fun and thanks for the contest , please enter my name in the give a way ! Thank you

[Kacey]

I don't do scrapbooking much, but I do make DVDs with my photos set to music to commemorate a vacation, event, or just life.

Oh, and Ali's site is WONDERFUL!

[Tobij]

I'm excited for this project...I did "Daily Something" about a year ago, and loved that too...
I need something to jump start my creativity, and this will be it...
I can see the future generations of our family looking through this book and smiling, and laughing, and saying, huh? interesting.

[Chocolate on my Cranium]

Ali's Weekend Creative Projects are always so fun, simple and inspiring.

[LeAnne]

Ali's work is so awesome. With all that's going on in the world right now, wouldn't a "normal" week's activities be just what my kids can look back on in wonder.

[mrsmojanks]

I have been a fan of Ali's for quite some time. I have four young girls and trying to keep up with scrapbooking every moment is difficult...not to mention it is hard to find the time. So, when I started reading Ali's columns and books I found someone to help me simplify my scrapbooking. With this challenge, I am going to document a week in our lives. And it is something I think the girls will enjoy years from now.

[Nora]

I would love to be included in this drawing, what a wonderful prize:) Ali Edwards is such an inspiration, I really love her blog and articles, and I'm definitly going to try to play along in the "week of my life"-project!

[Pnutsmum]

I've done this in one of her classes, amazing! I love looking back at how things were and amazed at how my perspective now is so different from then!

[Sulieen A.]

Ali is so inspirational and I want to be like her when I gro up. HAHAHA!!! I am only one year younger that her. I love to visit her blog and of course I am going to participate in this weekend creative. I just love Ali Edwards.

[Jules D]

Ali's work is so inspiring. I can't wait to start this project.

[Joelle]

I LOVE her work. It's beautiful and simple. What I like best is that it gets to the heart of the matter without the bells and whistles. I've made a few of her projects and just love them.

[Tonya Baiz]

Yay! Let's do this together :)

[Kathy Reid]

Ali is so inspirational. She does the coolest things. I would love to win her books.

[Lora]

I am going to play along with Ali. I love a chance to win!

[amy]

Love Ali's stuff and I'm always inspired by her blog.

[Christa]

I love Ali's work - so inspiring! I love to scrapbook, but have not been motivated to do it for a long time due to a new baby and a move. I am excited about this project and I am hoping to do join in and get me excited about scrapbooking again.